WHERE IS JEEP'S SAMURAI EQUIVALENT?

I am a Jeep lover through and through but with Jeeps bloated, as they are, I rather invested in Suzuki's range of mini 4x4s (a laugh with a tear)

My 1997 Suzuki Samurai Hardtop (coil spring suspension) was build to within +/- 1% of the CJ2A dimensions. (Wheel size excluded)

I recently added a 2009 Suzuki Jimny Hardtop to my collection. I find both vehicles excellent on and off road. Feul economy is also very good. These small "Bobcats" are very user friendly too. I comfortably cruise at 120 km/h and often do trips exceeding 800 km in distance.

To be honest, I prever to drive these distances on secondary and worse roads (I am South African) I am now planning a trip from Jeddah (Sauidi Arabia) to Cape Town (South Africa) off road only

I wish Jeep would add to their vehicle line-up both, a Suzuki Samurai / Jimny equivalent and a mid size BAKKIE (pick-up). I will buy both.

I heard the Nitro is going to be discontinued sooner...its a badge-engineered Liberty anyway...The R/T is nice, with the 4.0 engine and 5 speed auto trans, but no real off-road capability.

I am hoping for a Jeep-Willys type vehicle built off of the Panda 4X4 Platform, because I think that would be the most viable. Jeep has been lacking a 4 cyl off-roader, and for that matter, a 4 cyl convertible since the TJ left the scene, plus the Panda is more capable than the Compass and the Patriot.

What probably would make more sense, since the manufacturing lines are flexible...

Discontinue the Nitro, build the new 2011 Grand Cherokee in it's place on the assembly line. If demand increases for one, reduce the production of the other. If demand increases for both, add additional shifts to make better use of the facilities that are at hand.

By producing the core Jeep brands -- the Grand Cherokee (larger mid-size SUV as the new one will be slightly bigger than the current Commander) / Liberty (smaller mid-size SUV) / Wrangler -- in Toledo, they can also reduce the costs of shipping parts around the country. Jeep-specific parts like transfer cases, trim pieces, etc. can all be shipped to one location and split up as needed.

Any "Fiat-y" Jeep is not likely to use the same off-road systems that the core Jeeps do.

I'd hate to see the Liberty go. I prefer its boxy, utilitarian appearance to the Grand, and it gets somewhat better mileage. I'd like to see Jeep continue with something in the XJ spirit, and less of a Land/Range Rover competitor. Actually, I think they need both types.

As much as I liked the old XJ (had three), the Liberty is much more comfortable, quieter, and gets better mileage. It does not have the same clearances or articulation, but it's not that bad. I think Jeep needs a mid-size vehicle, preferable getting 25 mpg. All I need is adequate highway power. The V6 is plenty. Low gears handle the trail work. Our first XJ was a 2.5L four. It was marginal on highway hills, and noisy, but killer on the trails.

We just got an '09 Liberty and coming off of a Commander, we are thoroughly impressed with the Liberty.

Yes it is close in features to the GC, but who is going to pay the Premium for the GC when they can have a fully loaded Liberty for the price of a mid-line GC?

This segment has always existed as the Cherokee which was taken over by the Liberty, and I thionk it will continue to exist.

Remember the Jeep plants were re-tooled with flexible assembly line system that could in theory build all of the Jeeps, and certainly a Liberty and a GC on the same line on the same day.

I guess we won't know what direction Jeep is heading until the announce what Fiat-y vehicle they are going to build.

My guess is a small Jeep-Willys-type vehicle built on the Fiat Panda Platform..Hopefully they will remain true to the Concept Willys. Jeep has been lacking a true 4cyl. off-roader since the departure of the TJ.

It's not surprising, really. Nobody EVER agrees with me on this, but I feel the Liberty and Grand Cherokee lines have come too close in size and features. They are opposite ends of the style spectrum, but they occupy the same space for a lot of people. Can you really see yourself owning both? No, of course not. There's no reason to. Now with a 4-door JK out there, how many "family SUVs" does Jeep really need on the market? This was inevitable.

Now build a dang truck, already.